Thank you for inviting me here today. I am pleased to tell you about
some of the exciting developments at the CSU. I also look forward to hearing
your thoughts and ideas.

Latino students make up nearly one-quarter of the CSU's student population.
Given the rate at which the Latino population is growing in California,
we expect that number to increase. Reaching out to our state's Latino
communities is a very high priority for our institutions.

I would like to say just a few words about the CSU. Then I will be happy
to answer any of your questions.

Access to the CSUThe CSU's mission is to provide high-quality, affordable, accessible
higher education that will prepare students for the workforce of 21st
century. We admit all qualified students - regardless of ethnic, racial,
or financial background.

We draw our freshmen from the upper one-third of California's high school
graduates. For every first-time freshman, we admit almost two community
college students.

Affordability at the CSUThe CSU has a strong commitment to maintaining low student fees and
offering financial aid to needy students. CSU fees - among the lowest
in the country -- have held steady since 1994, and were reduced in 1998/1999
and 1999/2000.

For 1999/2000, the state university fee is $1,428 annually for undergraduate
students. It will stay at the same level for 2000/01.

Diversity at the CSUThe CSU is one of the most diverse educational institutions in the
country. More than 52 percent of CSU students are minorities -- more than
twice the national average for four-year public universities. More than
one-third of CSU students consider themselves to be multi-racial.

In May, Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education reported that four CSU campuses
are among the top ten universities in the country in terms of bachelor's
degrees awarded to Hispanics.

Latino Students at the CSUIn fall 1999, the CSU had 70,232 Latino students, for a total of 23.3%.

Of the first-time freshmen from California high schools, 26 percent are
Latino. Of the transfer students from California community colleges, 24
percent are Latino.

For the LA Basin campuses:

Dominguez Hills:

32 percent

Latino

Long Beach:

24 percent

Los Angeles:

51 percent

Northridge:

28 percent

Pomona:

26 percent

San Bernardino:

30 percent

Teacher Preparation at the CSUOne of our highest priorities at the CSU is to prepare high-quality
teachers who reflect the diversity of California's classrooms.

The CSU is making its teacher preparation programs more accessible for
high-quality candidates from a variety of backgrounds. We are developing
more evening, weekend and summer courses; short-term courses; distance
education; and streamlined education programs. We are also building more
partnerships with K-12 schools and community colleges.

CSU Outreach EffortsLast year, the CSU received $9 million to help eliminate the need
for remedial education. Our campuses have partnered with about 150 of
the state's high schools that send us the most students needing remedial
education.

Our faculty and staff are helping these schools:

Clarify CSU entrance standards;

Develop more effective English and mathematics teaching methods;

Administer and interpret diagnostic testing.

We are also sending trained CSU student tutors to these schools to help
in the classroom.

CSU Posters
The CSU has printed 80,000 copies of this poster, in English and in Spanish,
and 100,000 copies of a smaller version, and distributed them to high
schools and middle schools across the state. It gives a step-by-step guide
to preparing for the CSU. We also developed a similar poster for community
college transfer students.

When I showed this poster at Channel Islands earlier this month, one
local businessman was so excited about it that he has proposed to print
up 71,000 copies -- one for every 6th through 12th grade student in Ventura
County.

New CSU BudgetLast, I am pleased to report that the governor has signed the largest
CSU budget ever for 2000/01. The budget will allow us to focus on our
top priority areas, including access for students.

We received a general fund increase of $73.1 million to serve nearly
13,000 new full-time equivalent students in 2000/01. We also received
$19.9 million for year-round operations, which will help us expand access.

Also, our Trustees have approved a new policy to guarantee access to
a local campus for all eligible local students. This policy will help
us better serve students whose local campuses are near capacity.

ClosingI look forward to working with all of you and finding ways for the
CSU to better serve the Latino community.

I believe we need to partner together to encourage and help more students:

To take the classes that make them eligible for college;

To find more dollars for scholarships so college is possible;

To enter science and math programs;

To become teachers, and to teach where the need is greatest.

I also want to ask you: What can the Latino community do to provide better
opportunities for its sons and daughters? If we join forces, our efforts
can make a difference.

Once again, thank you for sharing your time today. I will be happy to
answer any questions.